Salmon Counts at Record Lows

Biologists up and down the Columbia River are shaking their heads over the behavior of this year's upriver Chinook salmon run, including Snake River spring and summer Chinook. Based on the 10 year average, about 28 percent of the run should have passed Bonneville Dam by now, but the run total through April 18 was just 1,545 adults. If that truly represented 28 percent of the run, the total number of salmon crossing Bonneville would only be a few more than 5,500. "We have many indicators including last year's jack return and downriver catch that show that the run crossing Bonneville Dam will be larger than 5,500 adults," said Sharon Kiefer, Anadromous Fishery Manager for Idaho Department of Fish and Game. "So, we know it is a late run but it is still difficult to know just how late or how large the run will be." Fishery managers say the run has been dramatically late more than once. For example, in 1996 only nine percent of the run had passed Bonneville Dam by April 18. Still, the number of Chinook passing Bonneville as of this date is the lowest on record since 1970. In addition to the unusual run timing, biologists are struggling with updating the preseason forecast, which was more than 200,000 adults. Fishery managers throughout the Columbia basin agree that the run size over Bonneville Dam will be substantially lower than forecast, for the second year in a row. Last year Chinook numbers were substantially adjusted downward from the preseason forecast as the run progressed. While fishery managers in Oregon and Washington are closing some Columbia River salmon seasons until further notice, Idaho managers are waiting for more data that will provide specific information about Idaho salmon. "We just don't have enough run size information for decision making regarding effects to fisheries in Idaho so we have not adjusted our current rules yet," said Sharon Kiefer. We are trying to get enough Snake River data to make an in-season update. Just how low and how late the runs into Idaho are will determine how our recreational fisheries will be affected." Because very few Chinook have made into Idaho, anglers are not expected to have any impact on the run in the next couple of weeks. This allows Idaho managers time to get more data on Idaho runs crossing Bonneville Dam. "The one certain piece of advice I can offer is that this year's opener on April 23 will be very slow for salmon as less than a handful have passed Lower Granite Dam so far." Kiefer said. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will continue to track the run and will make recommendations regarding Idaho spring Chinook fishery structure as more information becomes available. All efforts will be made to keep the public informed if any changes to the current Idaho spring Chinook rules are made, including via the media and the IDFG website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.